Motorcycle support stand system

ABSTRACT

A motorcycle support stand system for efficiently supporting a motorcycle in an upright position. The motorcycle support stand system includes a base member adapted to be attached to a motorcycle, an upper support member pivotally attached to the base member in a biased manner, a lower support member pivotally attached to the upper support member in a biased manner, and a lever attached to the lower support member.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable to this application.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable to this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to motorcycle support stands andmore specifically it relates to a motorcycle support stand system forefficiently supporting a motorcycle in an upright position.

2. Description of the Related Art

Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should inno way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely knownor forms part of common general knowledge in the field.

Motorcycle support stands have been in use for years. Some motorcyclesupport stands completely lift the motorcycle for extended storage andthe like to remove relieve compression of the suspension. Othermotorcycle support stands are comprised of a kickstand structure thatextends to the side of the motorcycle to support the motorcycle in aleaning manner.

While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to whichthey address, they are not as suitable for efficiently supporting amotorcycle in an upright position. In these respects, the motorcyclesupport stand system according to the present invention substantiallydeparts from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, andin so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose ofefficiently supporting a motorcycle in an upright position.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types ofmotorcycle support stands now present in the prior art, the presentinvention provides a new motorcycle support stand system constructionwherein the same can be utilized for efficiently supporting a motorcyclein an upright position.

The general purpose of the present invention, which will be describedsubsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new motorcycle supportstand system that has many of the advantages of the motorcycle supportstands mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a newmotorcycle support stand system which is not anticipated, renderedobvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art motorcyclesupport stands, either alone or in any combination thereof.

To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a base memberadapted to be attached to a motorcycle, an upper support memberpivotally attached to the base member in a biased manner, a lowersupport member pivotally attached to the upper support member in abiased manner, and a lever attached to the lower support member.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the invention in order that the detailed description thereofmay be better understood, and in order that the present contribution tothe art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of theinvention that will be described hereinafter and that will form thesubject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of theinvention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited in its application to the details of construction and to thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not beregarded as limiting.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a motorcyclesupport stand system that will overcome the shortcomings of the priorart devices.

A second object is to provide a motorcycle support stand system forefficiently supporting a motorcycle in an upright position.

Another object is to provide a motorcycle support stand system that maybe utilized upon various types of motorcycles.

Another object is to provide a motorcycle support stand system fordisplaying, parking, storing, cleaning, hauling, repairing andmaintaining a motorcycle.

Another object is to provide a motorcycle support stand system that isstable.

Another object is to provide a motorcycle support stand system that issimple to install.

Another object is to provide a motorcycle support stand system that doesnot detract from the appearance of a motorcycle when attached.

An additional object is to provide a motorcycle support stand systemthat allows a user to easily set a motorcycle into an upright positionwithout significant physical effort.

Another object is to provide a motorcycle support stand system that doesnot interfere with the operation of the motorcycle.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeobvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects andadvantages are within the scope of the present invention.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this inventionmay be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings,attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings areillustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specificconstruction illustrated and described within the scope of the appendedclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the presentinvention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes betterunderstood when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference characters designate the same orsimilar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of the present invention attached tothe frame of a motorcycle.

FIG. 2 is an exploded side view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded upper perspective view of the present inventionwith respect to a motorcycle frame.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the present invention attached to a motorcycleand in the raised position.

FIG. 7 is side view of the present invention attached to a motorcycleand partially extended downwardly.

FIG. 8 is side view of the present invention attached to a motorcycleand partially extended downwardly with the lower portion extended into asubstantially parallel position with the upper portion.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the present invention in the lowered positionsupporting the motorcycle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A. Overview

Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar referencecharacters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1through 9 illustrate a motorcycle support stand system 10, whichcomprises a base member 20 adapted to be attached to a motorcycle, anupper support member 30 pivotally attached to the base member 20 in abiased manner, a lower support member 40 pivotally attached to the uppersupport member 30 in a biased manner, and a lever 50 attached to thelower support member 40.

B. Base Member

The base member 20 is adapted to be attached to a frame 12 of amotorcycle as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of the drawings.The base member 20 preferably is comprised of a relatively flatstructure and has four raised corner portions that engage the bottomsurface of the motorcycle frame 12 when attached to the frame 12.

The base member 20 preferably includes a pair of raised portions 22 thathave apertures within for receiving fastener bolts as best illustratedin FIG. 2 of the drawings. The fastener bolts extend upwardly andthreadably engage threaded apertures within a nut plate 60 that ispositioned on an opposite side of the cross brace 14 of the motorcycleframe 12 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

The nut plate 60 may be comprised of any structure that fits onto across brace 14 and wherein the threaded apertures within the nut plate60 are aligned with the apertures within the cross brace 14. The nutplate 60 preferably includes a pair of first portions 62 and a pair ofopposing second portions 64 that have different thicknesses and to matchdifferent cross brackets utilized upon different models of motorcycleframes 12 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5 of the drawings.

C. Upper Support Member

The upper support member 30 is pivotally attached to the base member 20by a first hinge 32 or similar hinge structure. The upper support member30 preferably is biased into a raised position by at least one firstspring 34, wherein the first spring 34 engages the upper support member30 and the base member 20. The first spring 34 maintains the uppersupport member 30 in a substantially horizontal position when in theraised position as best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6 of the drawings.The first spring 34 is preferably comprised of a torsion spring, howeverother biasing devices may be utilized to bias the upper support member30.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, the upper supportmember 30 is preferably comprised of a U-shaped structure havingopposing side members and a cross member. Various other structures maybe utilized to construct the upper support member 30 other thanillustrated in the figures.

D. Lower Support Member

The lower support member 40 pivotally attached to the upper supportmember 30 by a second hinge 42 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 9 ofthe drawings. The lower support member 40 is preferably biased by atleast one second spring 43 engaging the lower support member 40 and theupper support member 30. The biasing force applied by the second spring43 maintains the lower support member 40 in a substantially upwardlyangled position when the present invention is in the raised position asbest illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6 of the drawings. The second spring 43is preferably comprised of a torsion spring, however other biasingdevices may be utilized to bias the upper support member 30.

The lower support member 40 is preferably comprised of a pair of supportunits pivotally extending from the upper support member 30. The pair ofsupport units are preferably connected to one another in anon-rotational manner by a cross support 44 or related structure toensure that they are both lowered and raised simultaneously. The pair ofsupport units also preferably extend outwardly with respect to the uppersupport member 30 to provide a broader base support when engaging aground surface.

The pair of support units are each preferably comprised of a receivertube 46 and a leg 48 adjustably positioned within the receiver tube 46as best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. A compressionspring 47 is preferably positioned within the receiver tube 46 andabutted against an inner end of the leg 48 to applying an outwardlybiasing force to each leg 48, wherein the leg 48 is slidably positionedwithin the receiver tube 46 for adjustment.

A plurality of apertures preferably extend through the leg 48 asillustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings. Another aperture extends throughthe receiver tube 46 for receiving a fastener that extends through theapertures within the receiver tube 46 and through a desired aperturewithin the leg 48 for securing the leg 48 in a desired extendedposition. The adjustability of the legs 48 with respect to the receivertubes 46 allows the user to both level the motorcycle and also ensurethat the appropriate upward force is applied to the motorcycle frame 12when the present invention is in the lowered position.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 4 of the drawings, a pad 49 isattached to a distal portion of each leg 48. The pad 49 is comprised ofa relatively broad structure to disperse the weight of the motorcyclefor supporting the same on various ground surfaces. The pad 49preferably has an angled front edge and an angled rear edge, wherein theangle of the front end is more than the angle of the rear edge as bestillustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawings.

E. Lever

The lever 50 attached to the lower support member 40 as shown in FIGS. 1through 9 of the drawings. The lever 50 is attached to a receiver tube46 (or a leg 48) as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. Thelever 50 is preferably angled outwardly from the lower support member 40as best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings. The lever 50preferably has an inner segment and an outer segment, wherein the outersegment is angled outwardly more from the inner segment as further shownin FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The outer end of the lever 50 ispreferably comprised of a relatively flat structure.

F. Operation of Invention

In use, the base member 20 is attached to the frame 12 of the motorcycleas illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The motorcycle may beoperated as normal without interference of operation by the presentinvention as illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawings. If the user desiresto park the motorcycle, the user lifts upwardly and rearwardly upon thedistal portion of the lever 50 thereby pivoting both the upper supportmember 30 and the lower support member 40 in a clockwise manner (whenfacing the left-side of the motorcycle) as shown in FIG. 7 of thedrawings. When the pad 49 of the lower support member 40 first engagesthe ground surface, the lower support member 40 is generally at an anglewith respect to the upper support member 30 and the lever 50 is slightlypast ninety-degrees as further shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings. The userthen continues the rotation of the lever 50 in a clockwise manner bypressing rearwardly and downwardly upon the distal portion of the lever50, wherein the pad 49 substantially remains positioned upon the groundsurface and the lower support member 40 is aligned substantiallyparallel to the upper support member 30 as shown in FIG. 8 of thedrawings. The user continues to rotate the lever 50 in the clockwisedirection thereby causing the motorcycle to be lifted upward andrearward until the upper support member 30 engages a rear edge of thebase member 20 thereby preventing further clockwise rotation of theupper support member 30 as shown in FIG. 9 of the drawings. When thepresent invention is in the fully lowered position as shown in FIG. 9 ofthe drawings, the upper support member 30 and the lower support member40 are maintained in an aligned position because of the over centeringdownward force of the motorcycle. It is preferable that the lowersupport member 40 is adjusted so that both tires of the motorcycleremain upon the ground surface with only a portion of the weight of themotorcycle transferred to the present invention thereby increasing thestability of the motorcycle in the parked position. When the userdesires to operate the motorcycle again, the user simply pushes themotorcycle forward to move past the over centering of the presentinvention thereby allowing the upper support member 30 to rotatecounterclockwise until it is back into the horizontal storage positionas shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings. The lower support member 40 isallowed to pivot upwardly with respect to the upper support member 30also thereby elevating the distal portions of the lower support member40 above the ground surface further to reduce the likelihood ofengagement of the road surface during turning and also increasing thevisual appearance of the motorcycle.

What has been described and illustrated herein is a preferred embodimentof the invention along with some of its variations. The terms,descriptions and figures used herein are set forth by way ofillustration only and are not meant as limitations. Those skilled in theart will recognize that many variations are possible within the spiritand scope of the invention, which is intended to be defined by thefollowing claims (and their equivalents) in which all terms are meant intheir broadest reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated. Any headingsutilized within the description are for convenience only and have nolegal or limiting effect.

1. A motorcycle support stand system, comprising: a base member adaptedto be attached to a motorcycle; an upper support member pivotallyattached to the base member; a lower support member pivotally attachedto the upper support member; and a lever attached to the lower supportmember.
 2. The motorcycle support stand system of claim 1, wherein saidupper support member is biased by a first spring engaging said uppersupport member and said base member to maintain said upper supportmember in a substantially horizontal position when in a raised position.3. The motorcycle support stand system of claim 2, wherein said lowersupport member is biased by a second spring engaging said lower supportmember and said upper support member to maintain said lower supportmember in a substantially upwardly angled position when in a raisedposition.
 4. The motorcycle support stand system of claim 1, whereinsaid upper support member is comprised of a first hinge attached to saidbase member.
 5. The motorcycle support stand system of claim 1, whereinsaid upper support member is comprised of a U-shaped structure.
 6. Themotorcycle support stand system of claim 1, wherein said lower supportmember is comprised of a pair of support units.
 7. The motorcyclesupport stand system of claim 6, wherein said pair of support unitsextend outwardly with respect to said upper support member.
 8. Themotorcycle support stand system of claim 6, wherein said pair of supportunits are each comprised of: a receiver tube; and a leg adjustablypositioned within said receiver tube.
 9. The motorcycle support standsystem of claim 8, wherein said pair of support units each include acompression spring positioned within said receiver tube and abuttedagainst an inner end of said leg.
 10. The motorcycle support standsystem of claim 8, wherein said pair of support units each include aplurality of apertures and a fastener for extending through acorresponding hole within said receiver tube for securing said leg in adesired extended position.
 11. The motorcycle support stand system ofclaim 8, wherein said pair of support units each include a pad attachedto a distal portion thereof.
 12. The motorcycle support stand system ofclaim 6, including a cross support attached between said pair of supportunits.
 13. The motorcycle support stand system of claim 1, including asecond hinge attached between said upper support member and said lowersupport member.
 14. A motorcycle support stand system, comprising: abase member adapted to be attached to a motorcycle; an upper supportmember pivotally attached to the base member by a first hinge, whereinsaid upper support member is biased by a first spring engaging saidupper support member and said base member to maintain said upper supportmember in a substantially horizontal position when in a raised position;a lower support member pivotally attached to the upper support member bya second hinge, wherein said lower support member is biased by a secondspring engaging said lower support member and said upper support memberto maintain said lower support member in a substantially upwardly angledposition when in a raised position; wherein said lower support member iscomprised of a pair of support units, wherein said pair of support unitsextend outwardly with respect to said upper support member, and whereinsaid pair of support units are each comprised of: a receiver tube; a legadjustably positioned within said receiver tube; a compression springpositioned within said receiver tube and abutted against an inner end ofsaid leg; a plurality of apertures and a fastener for extending througha corresponding hole within said receiver tube for securing said leg ina desired extended position; a pad attached to a distal portion thereof;and a cross support attached between said pair of support units; and alever attached to the lower support member.
 15. The motorcycle supportstand system of claim 14, wherein said upper support member is comprisedof a U-shaped structure.